Watchcase.



No. 788,923. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

- E. A. MARSH.

-WATGHGASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1, 1905.

UNITED STATES Patented May 2, 1 905.

EDVARD A. MARSH, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATCHCASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,923, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed March 1, 1905. Serial No. 247,844.

To a whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that l, EDWARD A. MARSH, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates both to a watch-movement and its inclosing case, the two together composing a complete watch.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction, both of the case and of the movement, whereby the movement may be detachably secured within the case to better advantage than heretofore. Ordinarily the main or pillar plate of a watch-movement has been turned so as to form an annular shoulder or face adapted to fit and rest upon a corresponding internal shoulder or seat in the body or center of the case. It is customary to form the movement and case in suchfl manner that the movement is inserted from the front or dial side of the case with the above-mentioned face or shoulder resting on its annular seat in the case-center. Suitable screws on the back or top-plate side ofthe movement are ordinarily used to draw the movement firmly onto its seat and hold it there, the arrangement being such that the action of the holding-screws tends to separate the top plate from the pillar-plate and to compress the two faces of the case-center. This separating tendency is liable to cause a slight bending of the top plate, the result of which 2 I I l is a modification of the end shake of some of the members of the time-train.

My invention, which is intended to obviate the above-mentioned objection, is embodied in a case-center and movement in which the movement is secured in such manner that there is no tendency to separate the plates thereof.

1n the embodiment of my invention here illustrated the construction is such that the movement is inserted from the back side of the case, so that an annular face of the pillar-plate has a bearing on the internal seat in the casecenter, the needful pressure to hold the movement in place being applied directly to the pillar-plate, so that the end shake of the train is in no way affected.

()f the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a view of the back side of a case-center and movement inserted therein in accordance with my invention, the back and inner cap of the case being removed. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the caps and the bezel. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the eccentric-headed screws used for pressing the annular movement-face against its seat in the case-center. Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary sectional view showing parts of the top and pillar plates of the movement. Fig. 7 repre sents a sectional view showing the band which encircles the top plate. Fig. 8 represents a sectional view of the case-center.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents the body or center of a watch-case which is provided with an annular internal seat 13, facing toward the back side of the case-center. The said seat is the inner side of an enlargement of the movement-containing space of the case-center, said enlargement extending from the back side to the seat 13, which constitutes the bottom of the enlargement. The diameter of the movement-containing space at the back side is therefore greater than that at the dial side, so that the movement is inserted and re moved from the back side of the case.

15 represents the pillar-plate, and 16 the top plate, of the watchmovement. The pillar-plate is provided with a face 17, which is preferably one side of an outwardly-projecting flange 18, formed on the pillar plate. Then the movement is in place in the case, the face 17 bears upon the seat 13, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Means are employed for applying pressure to the pillar-plate in such manner as to hold the face 17 firmly against the seat 13 without pressure upon the pillar and top plates tending to separate the same. In this embodiment of my invention the holding means comprise a band 19, which surrounds the top plate 16 and bears against the face of the flange 18 opposite the face 17 thereof. Means are employed for interlocking the band 19 with the case-center and exerting pressure on the band tending to force the face 17 against the seat 13. Said means preferably comprise a member 21, which is the eccentric head-of a screw engaged with a tapped socket in the band 19, and a seat 22, formed in the case-center, said seat being preferably one side of a groove 23, formed in the inner surface of the case-center. The rotation of the screw causes the eccentric head 21 to be either projected from the outer periphery of the band 19 into engagement with the seat 22 or to be retracted into a cavity 24:, formed for the reception of the screwhead in the band. WVhen the screw-head is projected, its outer surface is caused by the action of the screw-threads to exert pressure on the seat 22, and thus press the face 17 of the pillar-plate firmly against its seat 13.

It will be seen that the movement is firmly secured to the case without pressure tending to either separate the plates of the movement or to compress the faces of the case-center.

The case-center is or may be provided with shoulders 26 27, adapted to engage the snap edges formed on the back cap 28 and bezel 29.

In a hunting-case watch the front side of the case-center will be provided with an additional shoulder to engage the front cap or lid of the hunting-case. The band 19 is provided with a shoulder 31 to engage the snap edge of the inner cap 30. Said inner cap may be hinged to the band 19.

The band 19 may be considered as a part of the movement, it being inserted and removed with the movement.

I claim 1. In a watch, a case-center the movementeontaining space of which has an enlarged portion at the back side, the bottom of said space forming an internal annular movementseat facing the back side of the case, and a movement comprising a pillar-plate having an outwardly-projecting flange adapted to bear on said seat, and a separable band surrounding the top plate and bearing against the said flange, the said case-center and band having cooperating members for pressing the band against the pillar-plate flange and the flange against the seat.

2. A watchcase center provided with a movement-containingspace, which is enlarged at the back side of the case to form an internal seat facing the back side of the case and adapted to engage a shoulder on a watch-movement, the case-center having also a recess, one side of which formsaseat facing the front or dial side and adapted to engage an adjustable securing device carried by the movement.

3. In a watch, a movement having a fixed bearing-surface facing the front or dial side of the movement, and an adjustable securing device adapted to be projected from the periphery of the movement, and having an adjustable bearing-face facing the back of the movement, in combination with a case-center having a seat which faces the back side of the case to engage the fixed bearing-surface of the movement, and another seat which faces the front side of the case to engage the adjustable bearing-face of the movement.

at. In a watch, a movement having a fixed bearing-surface facing the front or dial side of the movement, and an adjustable securing device adapted to be projected from the periphery of the movement, and having a screw engaged with a tapped socket within the periphery of the movement, and provided with an eccentric head the outer side of which faces the back of the movement, in combination with a case-center having a seat which faces the back side of the case to engage the fixed bearing-face of the movement, and another seat which faces the front side of the case to engage the said screw-head.

5. A watch-movement comprising a pillarplate having a fixed bearing-surface facing the front or dial side of the movement, and an encircling band engaging the pillar-plate and having an adjustable securing device adapted to be projected from the periphery of the band and having a bearing-surface facing the back side of the movement.

6. A watch-movement comprising a pillarplate having an outwardly-projecting flange,

one side of which faces the dial side of the movement for engagement with an oppositelyfacing internal seat on a case-center, and an encircling band engaging the opposite side of said flange and having means for engagement with the case-center.

'7. A watchcase-center having a movementcontaining space of greater diameter at the back side than at the front or dial side to form an internalmovement-supporting scat facing the back side of the case, the case-center having also an internal seat facing the front or dial side, for engagement with a movementsecuring device.

8. A watch-movement comprising a pillarplate having a fixed bearing-surface facing the front or dial side, and an encircling band engaging the pillar-plate and having nleans for engagement with the case-center, the said band having also a shoulder or snap to engage the inner cap of the case.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDIVA RI) A. MARSI l \Vitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, E. BATCHELDER. 

